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Breaking News: Henry County Death Ruled a Suicide

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In a follow-up story reported earlier this week on KCII, the investigation into the death in the Henry County community of Olds has been ruled a suicide. According to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, around 4:30 Wednesday afternoon, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol responded to a 911 call from 50-year old Debra Layton-Harville informing the dispatcher that she had been beaten by her husband, 43 year old John A. Harville and he was still at the residence. While on the phone with the dispatcher, a single gunshot was heard in the background.

Upon arriving at the scene, located at 201 South Smith Street, officers found Layton-Harville had sustained multiple injuries to her face. She was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital for treatment.

After a search of the remainder of the residence, officers found John Harville on the kitchen floor with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa State Patrol conducted the investigation into the domestic dispute and the death of John Harville.

An autopsy was conducted at the University of Iowa’s Decedent Care Center and it was determined that Harville had died as a result of close contact gunshot wound to the head, consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. As a result of the investigation and autopsy, John Harville’s death has been ruled a suicide.